In 1959, Fender recorded the blues ballad "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." The song became popular in 1959, but he was beset by legal troubles after he and a band member were arrested for possession of marijuana. After a two years in Louisiana's Angola prison farm, he was released through the intercession of Gov. Jimmie Davis, also a songwriter and musician. Davis requested that Fender stay away from music while on probation as a condition of his release. By the end of the 1960s, Fender was back in Texas working as a mechanic, and attending a local junior college, while only playing music on the weekends.
Number One Pop and Country
In 1974, Fender recorded "Before The Next Teardrop Falls." The single was selected for national distribution, and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country and Pop charts. His next four singles, including a remake of "Wasted Days", all hit the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts. During the next few years, Fender had several major country hits, including the No. 1 hits "Secret Love" (1975) and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" (1976).
Texas Tornados
In the 1990s, Fender teamed up with fellow Tex-Mex musicians Doug Sahm, Flaco Jimenez and Augie Myers to form the Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados, whose work was widely acclaimed. Following the death of Sahm, the production of the Tornadoes slowed.
Los Super Seven
Freddy Fender continued to still be on top with a groundbreaking collaboration with several musical legends to produce another supergroup, Los Super Seven which consisted of David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, drums, bass, percussion, requinto, hidalguera); Rick Trevino, Joe Ely (vocals, guitar); Flaco Jimenez (vocals, accordion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, six-string bass, guitar, guitarron, jarana); Freddy Fender (vocals, acoustic bass); Ruben Ramos (vocals). This Super Seven effort won a Grammy in 1999.
On February 4, 1999, Freddy's star was installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2004, the Texas Folklife Resources produced a widely acclaimed sell-out show at the Paramount in Austin, Texas " Fifty Years of Freddy Fender", where Freddy was honored and then performed to a packed house. Also in 2004, Freddy's hometown of San Benito Texas honored Freddy with his likeness emblazoned on their new watertower with "Hometown of Freddy Fender". Freddy would later say that this honor meant more to him than any other accolade he had ever won.
Freddy Fender's Masterpiece...
La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
Freddy delves deeply into the music of his forefathers: the boleros and rancheras that would have played in the ghettos of his native San Benito, Texas, and that he sang as a youth in border-town cantinas. Especially gorgeous are "Adios Muchachos," a melancholy meditation on final farewells, and the delicate opener, "Rayito de Luna." El Be Bop Kid isn't just back; he sounds reborn. Freddy won his last Grammy for this album.
Freddy Fender underwent a kidney transplant in 2002 donated by his daughter and a transplant of the liver in 2004. Nonetheless, his condition continued to worsen. He was suffering from an "incurable cancer" in which he had tumors on his lungs. On December 31, 2005, Fender performed his last concert and resumed chemotherapy.
Fender has Passed on...
Rest in Peace, Vaya Con Dios
Freddy Fender passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2006, after a long battle with lung cancer. He is buried in his Hometown of San Benito, Texas.
Plans are underway for a Freddy Fender Museum to be located in his beloved hometown, San Benito, Texas. Check back at: www.freddyfendermuseum.org or
www.freddyfender.com
You Send Me
FREDDY FENDER Lyrics
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Next time you see me, things won't be the same
And if it hurts you my darlin', you only got yourself to blame
Well it's a true true sayin', all that shines is not gold
Well it's a true true sayin', all that shines is not gold
and like the good book says you got to reap just what you sow
Well you lied, you cheated, oh-oh for so long
You're a wrong-doing woman and another girl has got your throne
These lyrics are about a man telling a woman that he has moved on and things won't be the same next time she sees him. He blames her for any hurt she may feel, as her lies and cheating have led to their separation. The man cites the saying "all that shines is not gold" to explain that outward appearances can be deceiving, and that the woman's actions will ultimately catch up with her, as the saying goes, "you reap just what you sow." The man ultimately reveals that the woman's wrongdoing has cost her something valuable, as "another girl has got your throne."
The lyrics express a sense of betrayal and disillusionment, as the man has discovered that the woman he loved was not who he thought she was. He is taking a stand and moving on, leaving the woman to face the consequences of her actions. The song suggests that karma will catch up with those who deceive and hurt others.
Line by Line Meaning
Next time you see me, things won't be the same
The next time we cross paths, don't expect everything to be as it was before.
And if it hurts you my darlin', you only got yourself to blame
If my changed demeanor negatively affects you, it's because of your past actions causing this outcome.
Well it's a true true sayin', all that shines is not gold
An oft-repeated phrase is that appearances can be deceiving.
and like the good book says you got to reap just what you sow
As the Bible teaches, you will receive the consequences of your actions.
Well you lied, you cheated, oh-oh for so long
You've been dishonest and unfaithful for an extended period of time.
You're a wrong-doing woman and another girl has got your throne
You're a deceitful woman who's been overthrown by someone else who's more deserving of your former position.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EARL FOREST, WILLIAM G. HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind